Disc Tossing Table Game

ABSTRACT

A disc tossing table game is provided. The table game includes baskets configured to receive a projectile, a tiered basket stand configured to receive the baskets thereon, and a disc configured to be thrown at the baskets. The baskets include an upright support pole disposed in a catch member, a top member for suspending deflecting tethers thereon, and a support member for stabilizing the support pole in the catch member. The support pole includes a first end affixed to the top member and a second end affixed to a base of the catch member. The tethers include a first end affixed to the top member and a second end affixed to a ring member suspended around the support pole. The support member engages a wall of the catch member via a friction fit. The catch member includes an interior volume configured to receive the projectile.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/398,122 filed on Sep. 22, 2016. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to table top games. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a disc tossing table game including aplurality of baskets configured to receive a projectile and a platformfor elevating the baskets with respect to one another in order to form atiered arrangement for playing the disc tossing table game.

Disc golf is a widely enjoyed outdoor sports activity that has strongsupport at both the recreational and professional levels. While discgolf has been a popular game for both novices and professionals, thepopularity of the game has exploded in recent years. Record numbers areflocking to courses to try their hand at the seemingly arduous task ofthrowing a small disc in a basket located hundreds of yards away in asfew shots as possible. The popularity of disc golf has inspired manysimulated golf games, such as computer video games and other discgolf-related games.

Many people patronize restaurants, bars, clubs, and other establishmentswhere bottled beverages are served and consumed. In such establishments,friends often congregate and participate in games. Such games includetabletop games provided by the establishment for use by patrons, such aspool, table tennis, and foosball, as well as coin-operated games such aspinball machines or electronic video games. Beverage servingestablishments usually attempt to obtain a competitive edge by obtainingbetter games for the entertainment of their patrons.

Therefore, there is a need for a table top game simulating disc golfthat includes baskets positioned on opposing sides of a table whereinopponents compete against one another by successfully throwing a disc inan opponent's basket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types oftable top games now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides disc tossing table game wherein the same can be utilized forplaying a competitive game for entertainment purposes.

The present system comprises disc tossing table game comprising aplurality of baskets defining a goal configured to receive a thrownprojectile therein, a tiered basket stand configured to receive theplurality of baskets thereon, and a circular disc configured to bethrown at the plurality of baskets. The plurality of baskets include anelongated support pole, a circular top member, a plurality of tethers, acircular support member, and a catch member. The elongated support poleincludes a first end affixed to the circular top member and a second endaffixed to a base of the catch member. The elongated support pole ispositioned at a center of the base and extends vertically upwardly fromthe base in an upright fashion. The circular top member extendsannularly around the first end of the elongated support pole. Eachtether of the plurality of tethers includes a first end affixed to aperimeter edge of the circular top member and a second end affixed to aring member disposed annularly about a center of the elongated supportpole. The plurality of tethers are positioned annularly around thecircular support member and positioned at fixed intervals therearoundrelative to each other. Each tether of the plurality of tethers extendsfrom the perimeter edge inwardly at an angle towards the elongatedsupport pole. The circular support member extends annularly around theelongated support pole and is positioned between the center of theelongated support pole and the second end of the elongated support pole.The catch member includes a wall extending upwardly from a perimeteredge of the base of the catch member, an interior volume configured toreceive a projectile therein, and an opening providing access to theinterior volume. The basket stand includes a first planar platform and asecond planar platform that are tiered with respect to one another, suchthat the first planar platform defines a first row and the second planarplatform defines a second row disposed at a height greater than a heightof the first row.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the disc tossing table game.

FIG. 2 shows a partial phantom view of the disc tossing table game.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the baskets of disc tossing tablegame positioned on the basket stand of the disc tossing table game.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of disc tossing table game in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the disc tossing table game. The figures are intended forrepresentative purposes only and should not be considered to be limitingin any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of thedisc tossing table game and a partial phantom view of a basket of thedisc tossing table game, respectively. The present invention provides adisc tossing table game 10 including a plurality of baskets 15 defininga goal, or assembly, configured to receive a thrown projectile therein,a tiered basket stand 20 configured to receive the plurality of baskets15 thereon, so as to align the plurality of baskets 15 on a table in atiered arrangement, and a projectile comprising a disc 25 configured tobe thrown at and received by the plurality of baskets 15.

Each of the plurality of baskets 15 comprises an elongated support pole30, a circular top member 35, a plurality of tethers 40, a circularsupport member 45, and a circular catch member 50. The elongated supportpole 30 includes a first end 55 affixed to the circular top member 35and a second end 60 affixed to a base 65 of the catch member 50. In thedepicted embodiment, the elongated support pole 30 comprises a metal rodincluding a uniform shape and size throughout. The elongated supportpole 30 is disposed centrally on the base 65, or at a center of the base65, and extends vertically upwardly from the base 65, such that theelongated support pole 30 is upright and perpendicular relative to thebase 65 of the catch member 50. The elongated support pole 30 includes aheight larger than a height of the catch member 50, such that theelongated support pole 30 suspends the circular top member 35 above thecatch member 50.

The circular top member 35 extends annularly around the first end 55 ofthe elongated support pole 30 and includes a diameter larger than adiameter of the elongated support pole 30. In the depicted embodiment,the circular top member 35 comprises a planar plate including acontinuous and uniform surface. The circular top member 35 suspends theplurality of tethers 40 around the elongated support pole 30 andimmediately above the catch member 50. The plurality of tethers 40 actas a projectile stopper, or deflector, configured to deflect a thrownprojectile, such as the disc 25, downwardly into the catch member 50.The circular top member 35 is concentrically aligned with the catchmember 50, such that the circular top member 35 centers the plurality oftethers 40 relative to the catch member 50, in order to create a uniformarea allowing a thrown projectile to ingress into the catch member 50after the thrown projectile is deflected by the plurality of tethers 40.

The plurality of tethers 40 include a first end 70 affixed to aperimeter edge 75 of the circular top member 35 and a second end 80disposed adjacent to a center 32 of the elongated support pole 30. Theplurality of tethers 40 are disposed annularly around the circularsupport member 35 and are positioned at fixed intervals relative to eachother around the circular support member 35, such that they aresymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the elongated support pole 30.In the depicted embodiment, each of the second ends 80 of the pluralityof tethers 40 are affixed to a ring member 85 that is disposed annularlyabout the elongated support pole 30. The ring member 85 includes adiameter less than a diameter of the circular support member 35, suchthat the plurality of tethers 40 extend downwardly at an angle from theperimeter edge 75 of the circular support member 35 to the ring member85.

Each tether of the plurality of tethers 40 includes a length less thanor equal to one-half of a length of the elongated support pole 30, suchthat each tether of the plurality of tethers 40 extends approximately tothe center 32 of the elongated support pole 30 and does not extend toofar into the catch member 50, thereby obstructing entrance of aprojectile into the catch member 50. In the depicted embodiment, eachtether of the plurality of tethers 40 comprises a chain for providingbetter projectile deflection. The plurality of tethers 40 extendinwardly from the perimeter edge 75 of the circular top member 35towards the elongated support pole 30, such that they further facilitatethe deflection of a thrown projectile into the catch member 50.

The circular support member 45 extends annularly around the elongatedsupport pole 30. The circular support member 45 is affixed to theelongated support pole 30 between the center 32 of the elongated supportpole 30 and the second end 60 of the elongated support pole 30. In oneembodiment, the circular support member 45 includes a diameter equal toa diameter of the catch member 50, such that the circular support member45 engages the interior surface of the walls of the catch member 50 viafriction fit, serving as a lateral support structure for the elongatedsupport pole 30 and preventing the elongated support pole 30 fromtipping over when positioned in the catch member 50. In the depictedembodiment, the circular support member 45 comprises a flexible planarmember composed of a tacky grip-like material, such as rubber or foam,configured to facilitate frictional engagement between the circularsupport member 45 and the walls of the catch member 50.

The catch member 50 includes a wall 90, an interior volume 95 configuredto receive a projectile, such as the disc 25 therein, an upper end 100including an opening 105, and a lower end 110 including the base 65. Thewall 90 extends annularly around a perimeter edge of the base 65 andextends upwardly from the base 65, thereby defining the interior volume95. The opening 105 provides access to the interior volume 95 and ispositioned beneath the plurality of tethers 40 so as to enable aprojectile deflected by the plurality of tethers 40 to enter theinterior volume 95. In one embodiment, the opening 105 includes adiameter at least twice the size of the disc 25, thereby enabling thedisc 25 to enter the interior volume 95 without obstruction from theelongated support pole 30. In another embodiment, the catch member 50includes a height greater than a height at which the center 32 of theelongated support pole 30 is disposed, such that the catch member 50 ispositioned above the second ends 80 of the plurality of tethers 40. Inthis way, the catch member 50 is in a better position to receive aprojectile deflected by the plurality of tethers 40. The disc 25includes a diameter less than a diameter of catch member 50, such thatthe disc can fit inside the interior volume 95 of the catch member 50.

The base 65 includes a receptacle 115 disposed on a center thereof thatis configured to removably receive the second end 60 of the elongatedsupport pole 30. In the depicted embodiment, the receptacle 115protrudes upwardly from the base 65 and is configured to removablyreceive the second end 60 via a friction fit. In this way, thereceptacle 115 supports the elongated support pole 30 in an uprightposition within the catch member 50, while allowing the elongatedsupport pole 30 to be removed from the base 65 for dissembling theplurality of baskets 15 for storage.

The basket stand 25 includes a first planar platform 120 and a secondplanar platform 125 that are tiered with respect to one another, suchthat the first planar platform 120 forms a first row 130 and the secondplanar platform forms a second row 135 that includes a height greaterthan a height of the first row 130. The first and second planar platform120, 125 each include the same length and size and extend horizontallyparallel relative to each other, such that the first and second rows130, 135 are aligned. The first and second planar platforms 120, 125 areeach configured to receive at least one basket of the plurality ofbaskets 15 thereon. In one embodiment, the first and second planarplatforms 120, 125 are sized so as to receive at least one and at mostthree baskets of the plurality of baskets 15 thereon.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a perspective view of thebaskets of the disc tossing table game positioned on the basket stand ofthe disc tossing game and a perspective view of disc tossing table gamebeing played, respectively. In one method of play, users position abasket stand 20 on opposing sides of a table top 140 and position onebasket 15A on the table top 140, a pair of baskets 15B on the first row130 of the basket stand 20, and three baskets 15C on the second row 135of the basket stand 20, positioning the baskets 15A, 15B, 15C, such thatthey form a triangular arrangement on the basket stand 20 and table top140. Once the baskets 15A, 15B, 15C are positioned, users take turnsthrowing the disc 25 across the table top 140 at an opposing player'sbaskets 15A, 15B, 15C. The object is for one player to successfullythrow the disc 25 in all of an opponent player's baskets first. Thefirst player to throw a disc 25 in all of the opponent player's basketswins the disc tossing table game 10.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, thatdepartures may be made within the scope of the invention and thatobvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. Withrespect to the above description then, it is to be realized that theoptimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) A table game, comprising: a plurality of baskets configuredto receive a projectile therein, each of the plurality of basketsincluding an elongated support pole, a circular top member, a pluralityof tethers, a circular support member, and a catch member; the elongatedsupport pole including a first end affixed to the circular top memberand a second end affixed to a base of the catch member; wherein theelongated support pole is positioned on a center of the base of thecatch member and extends vertically upwardly from the base; wherein theelongated support pole includes a height larger than a height of thecatch member; the circular top member extending annularly around thefirst end of the elongated support pole; wherein the circular top memberincludes a diameter greater than a diameter of the elongated supportpole; each of the plurality of tethers including a first end affixed toa perimeter edge of the circular top member and a second end disposedadjacent a center of the elongated support pole; wherein the pluralityof tethers are positioned annularly around the circular support member,each of the plurality of tethers positioned at fixed intervals relativeto each other; wherein the each of the plurality of tethers extends fromthe perimeter edge of the circular support member inwardly towards thecenter of the elongated support pole at an angle; the circular supportmember extending annularly around the elongated support pole, thecircular support member positioned between the center of the elongatedsupport pole and the second end of the elongated support pole; the catchmember including a wall extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of thebase of the catch member, an interior volume configured to receive aprojectile therein, and an opening providing access to the interiorvolume. 2) The table game of claim 1, further comprising a circular discincluding a diameter less than a diameter of catch member. 3) The tablegame of claim 2, further comprising a basket stand including a firstplanar platform and a second planar platform that are tiered withrespect to one another, such that the first planar platform defines afirst row and the second planar platform defines a second row, whereinthe second row includes a height greater than a height of the first row.4) The table game of claim 3, wherein each of the first and secondplanar platforms include the same length and extend horizontallyparallel relative to each other, such that the first row and second roware aligned. 5) The table game of claim 4, wherein the first planarplatform and the second planar platform are each configured to receiveat least one basket of the plurality of baskets thereon. 6) The tablegame of claim 5, wherein the first planar platform and the second planarplatform are each sized to receive three baskets of the plurality ofbaskets thereon. 7) The table game of claim 1, wherein the circular topmember is concentrically aligned with the catch member. 8) The tablegame of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tethers include a first endaffixed to the perimeter edge of the circular top member and a secondend affixed to a ring member disposed annularly around the elongatedsupport pole, the ring member including a diameter less than a diameterof the circular top member. 9) The table game of claim 8, wherein theplurality of tethers include a length less than one-half a length of theelongated support pole. 10) The table game of claim 1, wherein thecircular support member includes a diameter equal to a diameter of thecatch member. 11) The table game of claim 10, wherein the circularsupport member comprises a flexible planar member composed of a tackygrip-like material. 12) The table game of claim 10, wherein the circularsupport member is configured to engage the wall of the catch member viaa friction fit. 13) The table game of claim 1, wherein the catch memberincludes a height greater than a height at which the center of theelongated support pole is disposed. 14) The table game of claim 1,wherein the base of the catch member includes a receptacle projectingupwardly from a center of the base, the receptacle configured toremovably receive the second end of the elongated support pole via afriction fit.